The mysterious myth of attention deficits and other defect stories: Contemporary issues in the developmental approach to mental retardation

Abstract

Summary We began this article with brief overview of the theoretical and methodological shortcomings that led to the decades-old myth of attentional deficit as central to mental retardation. We presented a reanalysis of the available data and suggested that no empirical evidence supports any relationship between attention deficits and mental retardation per se, although available data is certainly not definitive with regard to this question. Furthermore, we suggested that certain attentional deficits may be associated with specific etiological groups. This review of research on attention among persons with mental retardation provided the context for a review of historical landmarks and contemporary innovations and issues in the developmental approach to the study of persons with mental retardation. This framework is clearly not problem-free, but its contributions to increased precision and sophistication in theory, methodology, and interpretation are essential to the study of persons with mental retardation. As compared to other approaches, the developmental one is limiting as it generally necessitates the use of more resources in the study of smaller groups, but is necessary for increased accuracy and precision in empirical findings. Greater awareness of developmental issues will inevitably lead to an increasingly heuristic and collaborative approach to research in which studies will be designed to complement one onother. Ultimately, the products of these collaborations will provide information that is optimally helpful to persons with mental retardation, their families, and those who work with them.